New ICE Leadership
President Trump nominates former Oklahoma state trooper Lance Schroyer to lead ICE
President Donald Trump announced on June 27, 2026, that he is nominating Lance Schroyer — a former Oklahoma Highway Patrol Major — to lead Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), according to Reuters. Trump posted the news on Truth Social, calling Schroyer a "PATRIOT with real operational experience" who has "firsthand experience getting Illegal Aliens OFF our streets."
The nomination fills a leadership gap left when Acting Director Todd Lyons resigned in April, effective May 31. David Venturella has been running the agency since June 1, according to CBS News.
Who Is Lance Schroyer and Why Was He Picked
Schroyer spent 29 years with the Oklahoma Highway Patrol, rising to the rank of Major. He is also a U.S. Marine veteran, according to Newsweek. Trump highlighted that Oklahoma backed him in all 77 counties in 2016, 2020, and 2024 — a clear signal the pick is tied to political loyalty as much as credentials.
Schroyer's career focused heavily on 287(g) partnerships. Those are agreements that let local police carry out federal immigration duties. DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin — a former Oklahoma congressman himself — quickly endorsed Schroyer, saying his experience will be "vital" in executing deportations, according to the Associated Press.
A Turbulent 18 Months of ICE Leadership Before This Pick
ICE has not had a Senate-confirmed director since early 2017. The agency has cycled through acting leaders while carrying out some of its most aggressive operations. From December 2025 to February 2026, ICE ran "Operation Metro Surge" in Minnesota, resulting in over 3,789 arrests, according to Britannica. Two U.S. citizens, Renee Good and Alex Pretti, died during that operation.
The surge triggered a lawsuit from Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison and local mayors, who alleged unconstitutional use of force. The operation is estimated to have caused a $203.1 million economic impact in Minneapolis alone, according to the Brookings Institution, as workers quit and businesses closed.
Schroyer Faces a Senate Fight Over Detainee Deaths
Senate Democrats are already preparing for a battle. Senators Dick Durbin and Alex Padilla have raised alarm over what they call a "staggering death toll" in ICE custody — nearly 50 reported deaths between January 2025 and June 2026, according to the Senate Judiciary Committee. They are expected to press Schroyer hard during confirmation hearings.
On June 25, a coalition of 23 state attorneys general — led by New York's Letitia James — sent a letter condemning a new ICE policy that ends investigations into detainee deaths that occur within 30 days of release. Critics say the rule is designed to "shield conditions from oversight." Trump has demanded the Senate confirm Schroyer "IMMEDIATELY," according to Mediaite.
What Schroyer's Confirmation Could Mean for Immigration Policy
Analysts say Schroyer's pick signals more aggressive enforcement ahead. Private prison companies appear to agree — shares in CoreCivic and GEO Group rose on expectations of expanded detention contracts, according to TipRanks. GEO Group profits already surged from $32 million in 2024 to $254 million in 2025 under existing ICE contracts, according to Democracy Now!.
Senate Republicans have proposed a $72 billion package to fund ICE and CBP through 2029, including $10 billion for detention expansion, according to the National Immigration Forum. If confirmed, Schroyer would take the helm of an agency with more money, more detention beds, and a mandate — from both Trump and Mullin — to push deportations further and faster.
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